Airports generate $2.5B for economy

Written by Tunica Times
Monday, 04 August 2014 21:34

JACKSON, Miss. – According to a recent study by the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT), the state’s 73 airports generate more than $2.5 billion annually in economic activity, provide vital connectivity links enabling businesses to function more efficiently and improve the quality of life for residents in airport communities. The system of public-use airports is an essential component of Mississippi’s overall transportation infrastructure and an important stimulus for economic growth and development.

“This study indicates how substantial the aviation industry is to Mississippi,” said MDOT Executive Director Melinda McGrath. “When all of the impacts of the state’s 73 public-use airports are added together, over 20,000 jobs can be traced to the aviation industry, representing nearly $722 million in total wages.”